Fabrication Of Cells Research Articles

Use of BODIPY and BORANIL Dyes to Improve Solar Conversion in the Fabrication of Organic Photovoltaic Cells Through the Co-Sensitization Method

This work addresses the implementation of the co-sensitization technique to increase the energy efficiency of organic dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Fluorescent dyes derived from boron complexes— (BORANIL) and (BODIPY)— were successfully synthesized and used as co-sensitizers in different volume percentage ratios to verify the most effective concentration for photon capture through these sensitizers. The dyes were optically characterized using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV-VIS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), analyzing them through the optical performance of each hybrid combination of dyes, an optimization of the photon collection capacity in the tests performed in a volume percentage ratio of 25:75 or 1:3. The morphology and surface roughness of the electrodes were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. Through electrochemical characterizations, it was found that the highest photovoltaic conversion efficiency was obtained with the ATH1005 (D) dye mixed with ATH032 (G) in the proportion of 25%:75% or DG 1:3, with efficiency (η) of 3.45%, against 2.43% and 1.90% for DG 1:1 and DG 3:1 cells, respectively. Cells with BODIPY dyes also present higher conversion efficiencies compared to BORANIL cells. The results corroborate the presentation of organic solar cells as a viable option for electricity generation.

Tailoring Multifunctional Amine Salts Based on Anisole Liquid Soaking for Fabricating Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells.

The post-treatment based on spin-coating (SC) organic amine salts is commonly used for surface modification of perovskite films to eliminate defects. However, there is still a lack of systematic study and a unified understanding of the functions and mechanisms of different organic amine salts. The SC method is also not conducive to the industrialization of solar cells. In this work, we study three different organic amine salts, and a passivation strategy for perovskite films based on green anisole liquid soaking (ALS) has been developed. Phenylethylammonium iodide (PEAI), diethylamine hydroiodide (DEAI), and guanidine hydroiodide (GAI) organic amine salt passivators are selected to modify perovskite films, and their effect and working mechanism are also systematically estimated. It is found that PEAI passivates shallow-level defects on the surface of perovskite films, while DEAI incorporates into the perovskite lattice to suppress point defects, and GAI eliminates excess PbI2 residuals in perovskite films. These three organic-amine-salt-modified devices achieve enhanced power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of 21.82% (PEAI-ALS), 21.74% (DEAI-ALS), and 22.21% (GAI-ALS), which is much higher than that of the pristine device without treatment (19.95%). The PCE of the PEAI-ALS device retains nearly 94% of the initial efficiency after 1200 h in unpackaged conditions and about 40% ambient humidity, achieving the best stability performance. Particularly, the PEAI-ALS device has the best comprehensive performance in efficiency and stability. And PEAI is estimated by the SC method and ALS method, and it is found that the PEAI-ALS device achieves a higher PCE compared to the PEAI-SC device (21.51%). We believe that the post-treatment based on a combination of appropriate amine salts and ALS enables a universal approach for fabrication of perovskite solar cells with enhanced photovoltaic performance.

Visualization of Anion Vacancy Defect Annihilation in CZTSe Solar Cells by Hydrogen-Assisted Selenization with In Operando X-ray Nanoprobe Studies.

The traditional sulfur selenization process in Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) solar cell fabrication often results in the creation of localized anion vacancies (VS and VSe). These vacancies are considered harmful defects as they can trap carriers generated by light, leading to reduced solar cell efficiency. Moreover, concrete evidence has been lacking on the extent of the impact caused by these anion vacancies. Our research introduces a novel approach: the hydrogen-assisted selenization (HAS) process, specifically designed to minimize localized anion vacancies in Cu2ZnSnSe4 (CZTSe) solar cells. Our investigation, utilizing current-voltage (I-V) and admittance spectroscopy measurements, provides clear insights. We observed notable improvements in carrier collection efficiency and a discernible reduction in defect states. Furthermore, there was a significant decrease in the activation energy required within the solar cell device, dropping from 184 to 145 meV. To delve deeper into the structural and compositional aspects, we employed synchrotron-based X-ray nanoprobes. Through nanoscale X-ray fluorescence and hard X-ray beam-induced current measurements, we can directly observe and document the relationship between the local compositional distribution and photocurrent activity in operando. These comprehensive results furnish strong evidence that mitigating anion vacancies in the CZTSe layer can substantially improve the power conversion efficiency of the CZTSe solar cells. This advancement not only sheds light on the critical role of anion vacancies in solar cell performance but also underscores the effectiveness of the HAS process in enhancing overall device efficiency.

Photogalvanics of the lactic acid reductant - Carmoisine A photosensitizer-CAPB surfactant electrolyte: An optimization, stability and illumination window size effect

The photogalvanic cells presented in this research work are energy devices having dual role of simultaneous solar power generation and storage. The study of photogalvanics of the Lactic acid reductant-Carmoisine A photosensitizer- Cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) surfactant-NaOH alkali has been done under artificial illumination for exploring a most suitable combination of photosensitizer, reductant and surfactant for further enhancing the solar harvesting efficiency. This combination of chemicals (Lactic acid-Carmoisine A-CAPB-NaOH) has shown remarkable improvement in the cell performance. The optimum conditions for cell have also been investigated for optimal cell performance. The electrical output of the cell has been found to depend on the cumulative effect of all cell fabrication variables. The observed power is of the order 1012.70 μW with efficiency 28.84 %. The electrical out-put of the photo-galvanic cells is found almost independent of the size of the illumination window. The initial power generated from the cell was ∼309.0 µW (taken as 100 %), and power at the end of 6th day was ∼0.0009 %. This long term study of the cell in post-illuminated dark conditions shows capacity of the cell to store and release the power over long period of time. Therefore, the Lactic acid reductant-Carmoisine A photosensitizer -CAPB surfactant combination is a good alternative for use in the fabrication of highly efficient photogalvanic cells.

TVT-Based New Building Block with Enhanced π-Electron Delocalization for Efficient Non-Fused Photovoltaic Acceptor.

To address the high-cost issue that impedes the large-scale fabrication and industrialization of organic solar cells (OSCs), it is crucial to design low-cost photovoltaic materials with simplified synthesis procedures. In this study, a novel fully non-fused acceptor, ATVT-BO, featuring a triisopropylbenzene-substituted (E)-1,2-di(thiophen-2-yl)ethene (TVT) unit as the central core is designed and synthesized. A control acceptor, A4T-BO, with the same alkyl chains but a bithiophene central core, is also synthesized for comparison. Theoretical calculations and practical measurements reveal that compared to A4T-BO, the insertion of an ethylene bond in ATVT-BO enhances the molecular planarity and reduces the aromaticity, leading to enhanced π-electron delocalization and thus improved electron mobility and a red-shifted optical absorption spectrum. The 3D molecular packing mode of ATVT-BO, characterized by tight intermolecular interactions, also promotes efficient charge transport in OSCs. Consequently, when paired with the low-cost polymer PTVT-T, featuring an ester-substituted TVT structure, as the photoactive layer, the PTVT-T:ATVT-BO-based device achieves a remarkable power conversion efficiency of 14.8%, distinctly higher than that of PTVT-T:A4T-BO-based cell. The result highlights the significant potential of TVT units in creating both low-cost polymer donors and fully non-fused acceptors, which opens up new possibilities for designing low-cost photoactive materials in OSCs.

Triphenylamine-Functionalized Metal Nanoclusters for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells.

Reported herein is a ligand engineering strategy to develop photoelectric active metal nanoclusters (NCs) with atomic precision. Triphenylamine (TPA), a typical organic molecule in the photoelectric field, is introduced for the first time to prepare atomically precise metal NCs that prove effective in the fabrication of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The scalable synthetic prototype, unique electronic strucuture, and atomically precise structure of the cluster ([(AgCu)37(PPh3)8(TPA-C≡C)24]5+) are illustrated in this work. When being employed as a buffer layer in the perovskite/HTL interface of PSCs, significantly enhanced performance is observed. The resultant n-i-p devices achieved a substantial power conversion efficiency as high as 25.1% and long-term stability. The findings offer valuable insights into preparing functionalized metal NCs that play multiple roles in improving the performance of the device: while the inorganic metal core enhances conductivity, the organic TPA shell promotes the "carrier transfer" between the perovskite and HTL layer and prevents the perovskite from corrosion.

Enhanced absorption in SnS/SnSe, SnS/ZnS, and SnS/ZnSe vdW heterostructures for optoelectronic applications: DFT insights

Abstract The electronic and optical properties of monolayers of tin monochalcogenides and zinc monochalcogenides are elucidated by utilizing density functional theory. The calculated results indicate that the monolayers of tin monochalcogenides (SnS and SnSe) have low bandgap and significant absorption in some segments of the visible region (∼400 nm to ∼500 nm). However, the monolayers of zinc monochalcogenides (ZnS and ZnSe) have wide bandgap and negligible absorption in the visible region, which limits their optical performance. Despite low absorption in visible region, ZnS and ZnSe exhibit fascinating properties such as wide band gap, cheapness, low toxicity, earth abundance, structural stability, and high refractive index. To identify the combined potential of zinc and tin, the van der Waals heterostructures SnS/SnSe, SnS/ZnS, and SnS/ZnSe are formed, and their optical and electronic properties are calculated. The calculated results illustrate that the formed heterostructures exhibit bandgap lowering and enhanced visible light absorption. The optical absorption is entirely shifted towards the visible region due to the formation of heterostructure (redshift). The enhanced visible light absorption and narrowed bandgap of the formed heterostructures make them a potential candidate for the fabrication of optoelectronic devices and solar cells.

Asymmetric Alkyl Chain Engineering for Efficient and Eco-Friendly Organic Photovoltaic Cells.

Recent advancements in organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells have resulted in power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) surpassing 20%. However, the use of halogen solvents in the fabrication of OPV cells raises concerns due to their potential environmental and health impacts. In this work, a novel non-fullerene small molecule acceptor BO-AM-4F, featuring an asymmetric alkyl chain design that includes a 2-butyloctyl and a unique 6-(hexylamino)-6-oxohexyl chain is synthesized. This design significantly improves molecular packing, crystallinity, and electrostatic potential distribution compared to the controlled acceptor DBO-4F, which possesses symmetric 2-butyloctyl chains. When combined with the polymer donor PBDB-TF and processed using the non-halogen solvent o-xylene, the BO-AM-4F-based OPV cell achieves an impressive PCE of 18.0%, surpassing the 16.6% PCE observed in the PBDB-TF:DBO-4F device. Furthermore, the PBDB-TF:BO-AM-4F system demonstrates enhanced photostability and thermal stability compared to its DBO-4F counterpart. These findings emphasize asymmetric alkyl chain engineering as an effective strategy for developing high-performance, environmentally friendly OPV materials. This represents a significant step towards sustainable OPV technology.

Evaluation of Pore-Former Size and Volume Fraction on Tape Cast Porous 430 Stainless Steel Substrates for Plasma Spraying.

Porous 430L stainless steel disks made by tape casting with various pore-former sizes and volume fractions were evaluated as substrates for solid oxide cell (SOC) fabrication by plasma spraying. This work reports the substrate properties relevant to the SOC operation of disks made by using extra fine metal powder with dense sintering to minimize the fine porosity between particles. In contrast, the coarse porosity is introduced by the pore former. We found that the 60 μm pore former at a 45 vol% fraction has the best application fit; it gives an adequate gas permeability of 3.11 × 10-13 m2 and an average open pore size of 45.90 μm. Compared to a commercial substrate with a similar porosity perimeter/steel area ratio, the porosity and gas permeability are 1.6 and 3 times higher, respectively. The detected maximum surface pore is 49 μm, allowing gas-tight electrolytes fabricated by plasma spray deposition.

Fabrication of high-efficiency perovskite solar cells using benzodithiophene-based random copolymeric hole transport material

The design of donor-acceptor (D-A)-based random copolymers-type hole transporting materials (HTMs) are important for achieving superior performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with high durability. In this work, a 2-alkylthienyl-substituted benzodithiophene (BDTT)-based random copolymer (denoted as RCP-BDTTPD), containing 2-ethylhexylthiophene-substituted benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene (BDTT as an electron-donor; M1) and two different side-chain functionalized thieno[3,4-c]-pyrrole-4,6‑dione as the electron-acceptors (M2 and M3), is prepared and applied as an efficient interfacial HTM for PSCs. The optical, electrochemical, and electronic properties of RCP-BDTTPD are shown to be structurally and energetically viable to serve as HTM for PSCs. The RCP-BDTTPD has deeper highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMO; −5.53 eV) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMO; −3.57 eV) energy levels. This is shown to be energetically suitable for realizing better compatibility with Cs-containing formamidinium/methylammonium (FAMA) mixed-cation perovskite as light absorber having HOMO energy level (−5.85 eV). The RCP-BDTTPD possessing gradient band alignment with perovskite, which is shown to be highly significant for the extraction of charge carriers, resulting in higher hole mobility of PSCs. RCP-BDTTPD delivered a reasonably good Voc of 1.10 V and higher Jsc of 19.01 mAcm−2 and, champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) up to 15.30 % with hole mobility (1.34×10−3 cm2V−1s−1) and high durability (Encapsulated cell retention of its PCE about 98 % over 16 h under harsh environment: Temp. ∼85 °C, RH∼85 %). This work demonstrating a potential application of RCP-BDTTPD based HTMs for the fabrication of high-performance PSCs with high durability as well as low cost.

A Review on Fabrication and Quantum Chemical Designing of Organic Solar Cells: Role of DFT and Machine Learning Technologies

A Review on Fabrication and Quantum Chemical Designing of Organic Solar Cells: Role of DFT and Machine Learning Technologies

Formamidinium Lead Iodide‐Based Perovskite Solar Cell Fabrication With an Electrospun‐Reduced Graphene Oxide Back Electrode: A Novel Approach

AbstractIn this work, low‐cost and simple structure perovskite solar cells (PSCs) were fabricated using formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3) as the light absorber and reduced graphene oxide nanofibers (rGO NFs) as the counter electrode (CE). The FAPbI3 light absorber was prepared using a two‐step solution process, whereas the rGO NFs were synthesized through a simple electrospinning method. The as‐prepared FAPbI3 and rGO NFs were characterized by high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) pattern analysis. The surface morphology of the as‐prepared FAPbI3 and rGO NFs showed crystalline and bead‐free fiber structures, as confirmed by HRTEM and FESEM image analysis. The AFM topographical images of FAPbI3 and rGO NFs further reveal the crystalline and fiber structures. XRD pattern analysis confirmed the cubic crystalline phase of FAPbI3 and the graphitic nature of rGO NFs. From the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies, the PSC assembled with the FAPbI3 light absorber and rGO NFs‐based CE demonstrated an electrical conductivity of 3.64 × 10−4 S cm−1. The fabricated PSC device achieved an efficiency of 8.78% compared to the 7.49% efficiency of the device with a sputtered gold CE. This work uniquely integrates advanced materials, cost‐effective manufacturing, and enhanced efficiency in PSCs using FAPbI3 light absorbers and rGO NFs, addressing key challenges in cost and sustainability in solar technology.

Fabrication of lead halide perovskite solar cells with improved photovoltaic performance using MoSe2 additive strategies

Herein, we reported the fabrication of methyl ammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) based perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Molybdenum diselenide (MoSe2) was hydrothermally prepared and used as an additive to control the rapid crystallization of MAPbI3. Different weight percentage of (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.7 %) of the MoSe2 additive was explored to control the crystallization process and improve the surface morphological characteristics of the MAPbI3. The obtained results showed that 0.5 % MoSe2 additive modified MAPbI3 based PSCs device demonstrated excellent efficiency of 15.1 % with open circuit voltage (Voc) = 0.99 V, photocurrent-density (Jsc) = 21.26 mA/cm2 and fill factor (FF) = 0.72. The fabricated device with 0.5 % MoSe2 additive retained more than 85 % efficiency whereas pristine MAPbI3 based device retained 49.56 % efficiency after 1200 h. This suggested that 0.5 % MoSe2 additive modified MAPbI3 based PSCs device has excellent stability compared to the pristine MAPbI3 based PSCs device.

Innovative Materials for High-Performance Tin-Based Perovskite Solar Cells: A Review.

With the rapid development of lead-based perovskite solar cells, tin-based perovskite solar cells are emerging as a non-toxic alternative. Material engineering has been an effective approach for the fabrication of efficient perovskite solar cells. This paper summarizes the novel materials used in tin-based perovskite solar cells over the past few years and analyzes the roles of various materials in tin-based devices. It is found that self-assembling materials and fullerene derivatives have shown remarkable performance in tin-based perovskite solar cells. Finally, this article discusses design strategies for new materials, providing constructive suggestions for the development of innovative materials in the future.

Integrating Organ-on-Chip Models In Drug Discovery: A Comprehensive Review on Innovations and Implications

This review article examines the current developments in applying microfluidic technologies in cancer therapy and personalized medicine. This includes the fabrication of cancer cells onto the microfluidic chips, preclinical cancer model simulation development, biomarker detection, tumor heterogeneity detection, integration of microfluidics in robotic drug delivery systems, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and discuss the use of techniques such as Machine Learning (ML) to predict pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cancer cells. This review article also highlights how integrating cancer models with microfluidic devices helps to simulate disease progression more accurately, thereby improving treatment options. These devices also enable researchers to identify suitable doses for cancer treatment. Moreover, microfluidics chips facilitate cell transformation in many types of cancer, which is important for patient-specific therapy. Microfluidics technology in robotic drug delivery enables precise delivery of targeted drugs, thus reducing the potential side effects of the drugs. Integrating these fields into the medical and pharmaceutical fields helps researchers to develop the pharmaceutical product faster than the traditional method of drug discovery. Overall, this review article highlights the integration of interdisciplinary technologies in the healthcare field, which may decrease the timeline of drug discovery and provide efficient drugs to patients.

Automated Robotic Cell Fabrication Technology for Stacked‐Type Lithium‐Oxygen Batteries

AbstractRechargeable lithium‐oxygen batteries (LOBs) are gaining interest as next‐generation energy storage devices due to their superior theoretical energy density. While recent years have seen successful operation of LOBs with high cell‐level energy density, the technology for cell fabrication is still in its infancy. This is because the cell fabrication procedure for LOBs is quite different from that of conventional lithium‐ion batteries. The study presents a fully automated sequential robotic experimental setup for the fabrication of stacked‐type LOB cells. This approach allows for high accuracy and high throughput fabrication of the cells. The developed system enables the fabrication of over 80 cells per day, which is 10 times higher than conventional human‐based experiments. In addition, the high alignment accuracy during the electrode stacking and electrolyte injection process results in improved battery performance and reproducibility. The effectiveness of the developed system was also confirmed by investigating a multi‐component electrolyte to maximize battery performance. We believe the methodology demonstrated in the present study is beneficial for accelerating the research and development of LOBs.

Achieving bifacial photovoltaic performance in PTB7-based organic solar cell by integrating transparent contact for emerging semi-transparent applications

In this study, the design, fabrication and detailed analysis of semi-transparent bifacial organic solar cells (ST-OSC) based on MoO3/Ag/WO3 (10/dm/dod nm) dielectric/metal/dielectric (DMD) transparent contact system integrated with PTB7 polymer were investigated. The study emphasizes the importance of designing transparent contact systems to optimize the solar cells’ transparency (average visible transmittance, AVT), color rendering (color rendering index, CRI), efficiency (power conversion efficiency, PCE), and bifaciality. The performance of three distinct configurations was examined in the AVTmax (47.14% AVT, 3.93% PCE), (CRIext)max (23.82% AVT, 6.21% PCE), and Extreme Color (26.34% AVT, 5.81% PCE). The theoretically predicted AVTs for these configurations were 48.75%, 22.29%, and 25.15%, respectively. The strong agreement between theoretical and observed outcomes confirmed the accuracy of the Transfer Matrix Model (TMM). Furthermore, the assessment of bifaciality performance exhibited that the AVTmax had a bifaciality factor of 0.94, with a PCE of 3.67% under top illumination and 3.93% under bottom illumination. The high bifaciality of the structure designed with TMM to maximize the AVT demonstrates the value of calculations prior to solar cell structure fabricating and the possibility of constructing high bifaciality structures using this technique.

Viscoelastic synthetic antigen-presenting cells for augmenting the potency of cancer therapies.

The use of synthetic antigen-presenting cells to activate and expand engineered T cells for the treatment of cancers typically results in therapies that are suboptimal in effectiveness and durability. Here we describe a high-throughput microfluidic system for the fabrication of synthetic cells mimicking the viscoelastic and T-cell-activation properties of antigen-presenting cells. Compared with rigid or elastic microspheres, the synthetic viscoelastic T-cell-activating cells (SynVACs) led to substantial enhancements in the expansion of human CD8+ T cells and to the suppression of the formation of regulatory T cells. Notably, activating and expanding chimaeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells with SynVACs led to a CAR-transduction efficiency of approximately 90% and to substantial increases in T memory stem cells. The engineered CAR T cells eliminated tumour cells in a mouse model of human lymphoma, suppressed tumour growth in mice with human ovarian cancer xenografts, persisted for longer periods and reduced tumour-recurrence risk. Our findings underscore the crucial roles of viscoelasticity in T-cell engineering and highlight the utility of SynVACs in cancer therapy.

Camphorsulfonic‐Salified Chitosan Allowing MACl‐Free Stabilization of Pure FAPbI3 α‐Phase via Gravure Printing in Ambient Air

Metal–halide perovskites have gained extreme interest in the photovoltaic field with formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3) currently being one of the best‐performing materials for single‐junction solar cells. Despite the outstanding record efficiencies, there are still several major issues hindering the large‐scale fabrication of perovskite solar cells. The vulnerability to environmental agents along with the need of controlled atmosphere and crystallization aids for the perovskite film deposition represents the major roadblocks. This is particularly true for FAPbI3 for which the thermodynamically stable phase at room temperature is photovoltaically inactive δ‐phase. To address those challenges, herein, a camphorsulfonic‐salified chitosan is specifically designed with the aid of DTF calculations to strongly interact with the perovskite and, as a result, improve the morphology and optoelectronic quality of the FAPbI3. Thanks to the numerous interactions and then the modulation of the solution viscosity, FAPbI3 devices are fabricated by gravure printing deposition without either antisolvent bath or inclusion of methylammonium chloride (MACl) as additive. The gravure‐printed devices with the chitosan feature an enhanced efficiency and stability in air, retaining 80% of the original efficiency after 1200 h in ambient air without any encapsulation.

Fabrication of solid-state plasmonic solar cell device using FTO|TiO2|Ag-nanoparticle assembly to generate hot electrons surpassing Schottky barrier

This work presents a detailed investigation into the fabrication and performance evaluation of plasmonic solar cells, where a thin film of silver nanoparticles is deposited onto a TiO₂ layer, with the silver film itself functioning as the active layer for light absorption and energy conversion. The study compares two deposition techniques—DC Magnetron Sputtering and Thermal Vapor Deposition (TVD)—revealing significant differences in the resulting device performance. The device fabricated using TVD demonstrated a significantly higher open circuit voltage of 440.3 mV and short circuit current density of 1.6 mA/cm² compared to the device fabricated via DC Magnetron Sputtering, which recorded an open circuit voltage of 56.92 mV and a short circuit current density of 0.03 mA/cm². These results indicate that TVD offers superior electron-hole separation, reduced recombination losses, and enhanced light absorption efficiency. The main contribution of this work lies in demonstrating that the TVD technique significantly improves the photovoltaic performance of plasmonic solar cells compared to DC Magnetron Sputtering. The study validates the hot-electron mechanism at the TiO2|Ag junction using Kelvin probe force microscopy, contributing valuable insights into the role of plasmonic effects in enhancing solar cell efficiency. Additionally, it underscores the potential of TVD for developing advanced solar cell technologies with higher energy conversion efficiency.